Pedestrian tunnel, lobby expansion debut at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

CHARLOTTE — The ongoing construction at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is beginning to reveal its long-anticipated results.

On Wednesday morning, a portion of the airport’s west side terminal lobby expansion debuted. The new developments are designed to provide more space and a quicker trip from parking to the check-in area for passengers.

The renovations are the first updates to debut from the airport’s $3.1 billion “Destination CLT” capital investment program.

On the terminal’s west side -- near security checkpoint A -- nearly 90,000 square feet of additional space opened at 3 a.m.

A basement tunnel running from the hourly deck to the terminal was also opened on Wednesday. It allows passengers to skip the traffic that forms in the arrival and departure areas by going underneath it.

Travelers told Channel 9′s Gina Esposito the changes have already made their airport experience easier.

Pedestrian tunnel, lobby expansion debut at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

The construction has added space, but it also may cause some confusion on your next trip to Charlotte Douglas.

Airport officials were out in full force Wednesday directing folks through the changes and signage has also been upgraded to get passengers where they need to be.

Despite the opening on the airport’s west side, construction continues across the airport, including renovations to the arrival and ticketing area, as well as the departure and baggage claim area, that are scheduled to begin later this month.

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